History: Unity, Clark Co., Wisconsin

Contact: ken@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Weyers, Perske, Cutts, Voght, Linskog, Jarvis, Klein, Nelson, Galman, Rhodes, Clark, Messer, Creed, Kuehman, Koch, Laabs, Johnson, Misener, Blodgett, Hamman, Stinsor, Meyers, Falck

----Source: Marshfield Public Library

THE VILLAGE OF UNITY

Clark County, Wisconsin

1912 Panoramic Photo of Unity, WI by Hansen Photography, Withee, WI

From the Thomas Shanks Collection

The village of Unity is situated in section 6, township 27, range 2 east, in Marathon county, and section 1, township 27, range 1 east, Clark county. As in the village of Colby, the railroad right of way of the Sault St. Marie Railroad (formerly Wisconsin Central) is laid on the boundary line of the county and the village is on both sides of the railroad.

Unity was first incorporated as a village in 1903 and organized, which incorporation was declared invalid after a long drawn-out lawsuit, involving its legality. In consequence of this judgment, a new incorporation was effected in 1906, which stood the test of judicial scrutiny. The first supervisor in the county board under the valid incorporation was Louis Cook, now the county clerk.

The first settlement was mentioned in a former chapter; the settlers increased more in the farming community east and west of the village in both counties, the lands being exceptionally inviting.

The business population is almost equally divided on both sides. On the east. Or in Marathon county, are the following business houses: The Unity Manufacturing Company, runs a saw mill and cheese box factory. General merchandise stores are conducted by: Groelle & Hamann, the Unity Mercantile Company, and H. L. H. Weyers, Perske & Cutts keep hardwares, and August Weide a meat market, C. Voght & Sons are in the machinery business, and Linskog & Jarvis are the blacksmiths. Harness and leather works are kept by Philip Klein. C. Nelson is the proprietor and manager of the Nelson Hotel, and another hotel is kept by William Galman. There is also a creamery and cheese factory on this side operated by Otto G. Rhodes. Dr. J. H. Clark is the physician and surgeon and keeps a drug store. E. L. Messer is the village postmaster.

On the Clark county side are the following business houses: William Creed, general merchandise; farm products by the Unity Produce Company; hardware by W. E. Morgan; furniture by John P. Kuehnan; wood, lime and farm products by J. F. Koch; hotel by William Laabs; wagon maker, J. P. Johnson; livery by F. Jarvis, and a barber salon by V. R. Misener.

The Unity State Bank, organized in 1909, makes a good showing, especially in their deposits, giving evidence that if the population is not so very large, it is well doing, say the least. The following is a copy of the bank statement on February, at the close of the business on February 4, 1913:

The Unity State Bank, located at Unity, Marathon county, at the close of business on the 4^th day of February, 1913, pursuant to call by the Commissioner of Banking:

The officers are: President, C. E. Blodgett; vice president, O. C. Hanmann; cashier, S. J. Falck, who, with J. H. Clark and L. H. Weyers, constitute the board of directors.

The Marathon County Register

is the weekly newspaper of the village, faithfully recording all interesting happenings, like most all county newspapers, a seven-column paper. It is in the eleventh year of its existence and may be said to have become of age in the newspaper world. It is located on the Marathon county side, having a job office in connection with its printing outfit. It was founded by Louis Cook, the present county clerk, who sold his interest therein to the present owner and editor, E. L. Messer.

Schools

Unity has an excellent school building, new, modern and sanitary, as good as any in the county. It has a high school, with a full four year course, with three departments below the high school.

The principal of high school is O. L. Stinsor; assistant, Jessie L. Swan; grammar department, sixth, seventh and eighth grades, Delia Meyers; intermediate, third, fourth and fifth grades, Clara Brown; primary, Emma Schultz.

Churches

Three churches are in the village, the oldest being the Methodist church, the congregation of which organized in 1873, with the beginning of the settlement. The church was built somewhat later. The next church to be erected was the Scandinavian Lutheran church, which was built in 1906, and lastly the Church of “Christ Disciples,” which was built in 1909. There are no resident ministers, the churches being missions attended by ministers from the nearby villages and cities.

From “The History of Marathon County.”